About Drawing
Drawing is one of the most direct visual arts. A pencil, charcoal stick, pen, stylus, or brush can record observation, invent a scene, plan a painting, design a machine, or explore an idea.
Line
Lines can outline, divide, suggest motion, or build texture.
Learn MoreValue
Value describes how light or dark an area appears.
Learn MoreGraphite
Graphite pencils provide a wide range of tones.
Learn MoreCharcoal
Charcoal creates rich dark tones and broad expressive marks.
Learn MoreInk
Ink produces strong lines and permanent marks.
Learn MorePerspective
Perspective systems help represent three-dimensional space on a flat surface.
Learn MoreSketchbooks
Sketchbooks preserve experiments and observations.
Learn MoreDrawing as Design
Architects, engineers, animators, fashion designers, and scientists all use drawing.
Learn MoreLine
Changing pressure, width, direction, and rhythm gives lines different visual character.
Value
Artists use value to suggest volume, depth, light, and atmosphere.
Graphite
Harder pencils tend to make lighter crisp marks, while softer graphite produces darker marks.
Charcoal
It can be erased, blended, layered, and fixed to reduce smudging.
Ink
Pens, brushes, reeds, and technical tools create different line qualities.
Perspective
Artists also deliberately distort perspective for expressive or symbolic reasons.
Sketchbooks
They can reveal how an artist develops ideas before a finished work.
Drawing as Design
A drawing can communicate information as well as create art.